Boyd Park

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The City of Melbourne's Boyd Park concept plan is a step closer to being realised with Melbourne City Council via its Future (Planning) Committee forum, endorsing the scheme and resolving to issue a Planning Permit.

To facilitate the project, demolition of the former school building fronting Balston Street will need to occur allowing Council to upgrade the landscaping and expand the existing Boyd Community Hub into Kavanagh Street. 

The structure is not included in the Heritage Overlay or classified on the Victorian Heritage Register, with the landscaping works proposed along City Road frontage exempted by Heritage Victoria.

The endorsed scheme has been prepared by the Council’s City Design Studio which in tandem with the Open Space Planning Team have undertaken extensive community consultations regarding the expansion and improvement of the park since October 2014.

Demolition of the old classroom building is due to commence next month with the construction of the park slated for August/September 2018.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/boyd_park_final_concept_plan.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Final concept design for Boyd Park. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="689" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/boyd_park_final_concept_plan.jpg?itok=JzZ5CbcU" title="Final concept design for Boyd Park. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Final concept design for Boyd Park. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>14 on-street car parking spaces will be removed to allow for the expansion of the park into Kavanagh Street.

The plan for Boyd park will comprise the following areas and elements;

Forecourt Garden:

<ul>
<li>Retention of existing garden bed planting and seating on City Road.</li>
	<li>Development of existing lawn with raised communal planters.</li>
	<li>Seating edges on garden planters.</li>
	<li>Two generous pathways into the Boyd site.</li>
</ul>
North Lawn:

<ul>
<li>Raised sunny lawn area with shade trees and seating for relaxation.</li>
	<li>Large outdoor space with tables and seating for outdoor dining outside the existing café .</li>
	<li>Generous site entry and gathering area at City Road frontage and improved access to the tram stop via new entry and future raised crossing point.</li>
</ul>
School Yard:

<ul>
<li>Line markings for flexible child-friendly games.</li>
	<li>Sloping lawn and amphitheatre seating opportunities for gatherings and events.</li>
	<li>New garden spaces and shade trees.</li>
</ul>
Forest Garden:

<ul>
<li>Timber and rock seats and edges for gathering and reading.</li>
	<li>Deciduous trees for shade in summer and access to sunlight in winter.</li>
	<li>Sensory gardens and spaces that encourage informal nature-play.</li>
</ul>
Picnic &amp; Play Terrace:

<ul>
<li>Picnic tables and BBQ facilities for gathering and outdoor dining.</li>
	<li>Playground with play equipment.</li>
	<li>Informal play spaces amongst shade trees and places to sit.</li>
</ul>
Village Green:

<ul>
<li>Large open sunny lawn space for flexible activities.</li>
	<li>Shade trees and seating walls around lawn edges for resting and shade.</li>
	<li>Generous pathways and park lighting around the perimeter of the green to provide a strong link through Boyd park.</li>
</ul>
Boyd Park will add much needed open space to Southbank - one of Melbourne’s most densely populated suburbs - joining OSK Property's Melbourne Square and City of Melbourne's vision for Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street transformation.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/southbank_and_dodd_plan.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Boulevard and Dodd Street Transformation Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="384" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_and_dodd_plan.jpg?itok=ViF11kJN" title="Southbank Boulevard and Dodd Street Transformation Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Boulevard and Dodd Street Transformation Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The first stage of Melbourne Square which includes the park is already under construction with construction commencing on Stage 1 of the Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street transformation commencing in July.
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Laurence Dragomir

Southbank's Boyd Park moves a step closer

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This Tuesday the City of Melbourne's Councillors will consider a plan for a new 5,000 sqm urban park for Southbank - the municipality’s most densely populated suburb - which has the least amount of public open space per person in the City of Melbourne.

The $3.5m Boyd Park Concept Plan aims to "create a backyard" for Southbank residents and to provide flexible and playful spaces that support a range of activities. The concept plan builds on Boyd’s former use as a school and current function as a vibrant community hub.

A draft concept plan for the park was presented to the community from 23 November to 22 December 2017, with a community workshop held on 7 December 2017 followed by presentations to key stakeholders and the creation of a summer pop-up. 
 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/boyd_park_plan.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The City of Melbourne's concept plan for Boyd Park. Image : City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="743" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/boyd_park_plan.jpg?itok=zaFhnIuh" title="The City of Melbourne's concept plan for Boyd Park. Image : City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The City of Melbourne's concept plan for Boyd Park. Image : City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>As part of the plan, a future development site at 132 Kavanagh Street will be tendered with the development footprint being reduced in size from 2,356 to 1,834 sqm to improve park access, with an additional condition that any new development should not interfere with the new park.

An off-lead dog area was also high on the community’s wish list for Southbank and CoM are looking at an adjoining area that may be appropriate for this use.

In 2007, the City of Melbourne acquired the site of the former Boyd School located on City Road near Kings Way and has continued working towards the goal of creating a vibrant community hub.

<blockquote>
As the city grows rapidly, we know that more than 80 per cent of residents live in apartments so open space will continue to be absolutely critical to maintain liveability.

This plan is a clear case of Southbank residents and businesses asking for community facilities and the City of Melbourne getting on to deliver it. The new park will include an interactive, age-appropriate playground with facilities for young families, a communal garden and leafy grassed places for people to relax alongside improved pedestrian and cycle connections.

For active sports such as basketball, we’re exploring options to further expand the size of the park by utilising the nearby Kings Way under-croft: an innovative and exciting idea that we are looking forward to speaking with the community about.

This urban park will be a much-needed backyard for Southbank residents. It has been a long time in the making and will add an important recreational focal point for the local community.

Southbank’s 22,000 strong residential population and its 50,000 daily workforce are expected to double in the next decade, placing even more pressure on the area’s limited open spaces.

These requirements will ensure that the design for the adjoining development is undertaken in a manner that adds value to the urban park and overcomes many of the challenges experienced by the community who have outgrown the existing facilities.

- Arron Wood, Acting Lord Mayor
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/kingsway_undercroft_concept.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="CoM is exploring options to expand the size of the park into the adjacent Kings Way under-croft space. Image : City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="705" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/kingsway_undercroft_concept.jpg?itok=Nx280JtZ" title="CoM is exploring options to expand the size of the park into the adjacent Kings Way under-croft space. Image : City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>CoM is exploring options to expand the size of the park into the adjacent Kings Way under-croft space. Image : City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The City of Melbourne is preparing documents for the public tender of the private development site at 132 Kavanagh Street. Strict conditions will require the successful bidder to deliver additional community facilities for the Boyd Hub, as well as the inclusion of affordable housing and a high green star rating in their development.

Demolition of the old classroom building to the rear of Boyd Hub will commence in May with construction on the new park expected to commence in August this year.
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